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Abraham: an activator of hope

Romans 4:18-21 (NKJV) [Abraham], contrary to hope, in hope believed … And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. [emphasis added]

I don’t think we can talk for very long about hope without Abraham coming to mind. Abraham is one of my heroes. He was called the ‘father of faith’. He had an understanding of God’s love for him. He activated hope, and became a releaser of faith.

See, in Genesis 12:1-3 and Genesis 15:4-5, God had promised Abraham and Sarah more descendants than could be counted. Yet, though the years passed, the miracle did not come, and there seemed zero probability of it happening now. The whole thing seemed laughable according to human logic. 

But, despite the hopelessness most people would have felt similar circumstances, Abraham made a decision to become a believer in hope. In the face of his and Sarah’s advanced age – not to mention Sarah’s long-standing barrenness – it’s like Abraham just decided to keep on hoping. To keep saying, ‘Well, God promised we’d have a kid.’ To believe God and press through. 

Generations later, Paul holds Abraham up to the Roman believers as an example of how to activate hope. That ‘contrary to hope’, it is still possible to ‘in hope believe’.

We all know what it is to go through seasons in life where our feelings tell us there is no hope. Maybe you’ve had a prophetic word. Maybe God spoke to you in your own reading of scripture. Maybe something came into your heart that you knew was God. But maybe those words or promises seem to be taking a long time to be fulfilled. 

You know what? God is true to His word. The only way you can lose out is if the enemy can take hope from you. So, let’s not let the natural speak to us in a volume that greater than the supernatural. 

Be like Abraham, and don’t give in when your hope is under attack. Instead, say with him, ‘No. Despite not feeling hope, and despite not seeing the evidence, I will continue to hope.’ And don’t forget what the result of Abraham’s activating hope was – he became the father of many nations. 

Today, take some time to remember some past examples of times God has come through for you. Reflect on the trustworthiness of His character. What He promises, He is able to perform. Give God glory despite the circumstances. It may take time, and the end result may look different to what you had in mind, but you can stand on the hope of His promises.